2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k)
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Public Policy is the 116th most popular major in the country with 6,199 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $52,077 and had an average of $35,743 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,160 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 74 colleges that offer a degree in public policy. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public policy programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public policy program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank Public Policy Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k)
Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 228 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, Harvard has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.
Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it awarded 96 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Princeton, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 337 degrees to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #4 spot on the list. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 masters’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, Duke has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, Stanford has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Johns Hopkins not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Georgetown University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 177 diplomas to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.
Georgetown also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591.
With a ranking of #8, Brown University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Brown University is a medium-sized school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 55 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
Brown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363.
Washington University in St Louis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 12 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, WUSTL has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Vanderbilt University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.
Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 105 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 126 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 58 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCLA has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Public Policy Report
William & Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.
William & Mary also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 43 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #16, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 75 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Virginia also took the #15 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia - Main Campus are $32,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 117 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #20, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 111 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon are $47,326.
University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 72 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
UMCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. BYU is a large school located in Provo, Utah that handed out 6 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Brigham Young University - Provo are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456.
With a ranking of #24, Trinity College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Trinity College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hartford, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Trinity Bantams also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Bantams are $17,830, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Houston came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a Similar Major
Human Services
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Human Services (Income $48-$75k)
Public Administration
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k)
Other Public Administration
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Public Administration (Income $48-$75k)
Switch to a More Focused Major
General Public Policy Analysis
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Public Policy Analysis (Income $48-$75k)
Health Policy Analysis
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Health Policy Analysis (Income $48-$75k)
Other Public Policy Analysis
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Public Policy Analysis (Income $48-$75k)
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Public Policy Master's Degree Schools
Public Policy students
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy
Public Policy students
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Public Policy Schools
Public Policy students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $0-$30k)
Public Policy students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k)
Public Policy students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income Over $110k)
Public Policy students with family income exceeding $110k
Highest Paid Master's Degree Public Policy Graduates
Public Policy students
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy
Public Policy students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (With Aid)
Public Policy students getting aid
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $30-$48k)
Public Policy students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $75-$110k)
Public Policy students with family income $75-$110k
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The Official CTBTO Photostream.
Featured Public Administration Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
.jpg){kind=link}